Celebrate good times, come on!
This year we have a special occasion for celebration – 30 years of the Belgian Business Chamber in Poland!
We have prepared a series of the #BackToTheRoots interviews with people engaged in developing BBC throughout the years. We want to bring you closer to the history of our Chamber. Please find interesting stories below and some more info on when and where we are going to celebrate.
Bruno Lambrecht tells us about the beginning of the Chamber, and yes – it all started with beer. When BBC started back in 1992, the abbreviation stood for the Belgian Beer Club! The Club was a place where entrepreneurial Belgians used to meet over a beer and discuss business and life in post-transformation Poland.
Let Bruno Lambrecht tell you the full story of the BBC beginnings and more in the first video of the #Backtotheroots series below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQLapR1XEs&list=PLWfLDqMPNuOw0U_orpeKtHmNOMuN-UFY3
Annick van Hool tells us, among other things, about Belgian Days, our flagship event! Did you know that in the very beginning, Belgian Days was not an independent event, but it was closely linked to the trade missions? It has always been a great opportunity for the Belgians living in Poland to meet and celebrate Belgium, as well as promote their businesses, but only later did it become a separate event.
Learn more about Belgian Days and the daily life of BBC from Annick van Hool in our #Backtotheroots video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZobzBDYFIuU&list=PLWfLDqMPNuOw0U_orpeKtHmNOMuN-UFY3&index=2
Philippe de Brouwer tells us more about the tough years for the BBC at the end of the 20’s. We started with a deficit on our accounts and low interest from the companies in becoming members and somehow, we had to turn that around,’ – says Philippe de Brouwer, who as the President of the BBC had to steer our Polish-Belgian ship on very troubled waters.
Learn more stories from Philippe in the #Backtotheroots video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaVIGOF2MLU&list=PLWfLDqMPNuOw0U_orpeKtHmNOMuN-UFY3&index=3
Ronnie Richardson tells us some interesting stories about the Chamber back from the beginning of the 20’s. He describes, among others, the economic situation in Poland, the priorities of the BBC, his Polish exam, and his best memory: “[...] we were a part of the official visit of Prince Philippe, not yet a King at that time, and his spouse. They came to Poland on an economic mission to promote Belgium and I remember hosting them at the BBC in a huge meeting and this is something I will never forget,” Ronnie Richardson, President of the BBC (2002-2005).
Learn more stories from Ronnie in the #Backtotheroots video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57nca72oeEo
The #Backtotheroots series has come to an end but follow us for more updates on the Anniversary event.
The celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Belgian Business Chamber will take place at Mokoto Events (Warsaw), on September 15, 2022.
Participation in the event is by invitation only.
Stay tuned for more information and get #BackToTheRoots with us!
